For several years, functional elements are integrated in FIM components. In parallel, the emerging field of printed electronics developed. BÖ-LA now brings these and other trends together into one vision:

By combining FIM components made of plastic with electronics, the classic FIM component changed from a purely decorative component to a functional electronic element. We call this last development stage Film-Insert-Molded-Electronics.

Entire modules – consisting of control panels, decorative trims, mechanical buttons, light guides and LEDs – will be reduced to one single film-decorated, touch-sensitive, self-illuminating FIM component with a closed, freely formable surface.

Visit us from 13th to 17th October 2015 at the Fakuma at booth 3310 in hall B3.

FIM-O

Film-Insert-Molded-OLED (FIM-O) is a publicity funded joint project. Against this background BÖ-LA and its partners will be researching until the mid of 2015 on the integration of organic electronics in the form of OLEDs into 3D-formed and film-insert-molded plastic components.

During the Fakuma we present the final component of the joint project - a self-luminous FIM O Navigation panel with integrated OLED lighting. At the same time an OLED gets front-injected using the FIM process and a decorative 3D formed hardcoat film is rear-injected. In just one operation the result is a self-luminous, foil decorated plastic part with integrated OLED illumination.

With this innovation, BÖ-LA, a pioneer of FIM technology, will also become the forerunner in the further development of printed electronics to Film-Insert-Molded-Electronics.

The consortium dealing with the dekOLED project has succeeded in prevailing the lead market contest „Neue Werkstoffe (new raw materials). This government funded research project has started in April 2017 and is set to run three years. Target of the project is to create a demonstrator showing the integration of 2.5D formed OLEDs in a 3D formed plastic part. By means of illuminated symbols and surfaces , 3D formed components shall associate control panels for automotive interiors and home appliances.

The outstanding innovation in this project is the interaction of OLEDs - realized with finest thin glass and new encapsulating materials - as a multi functional display with touch and slider function on one hand and the film insert molding process (FIM) on the other. In order to achieve a high value optical appearance, these functional elements are integrated into a sealed decorated surface.

This requires the use of OLEDs with high temperature resistance realized with optimized and enhanced OLED materials. The potential use of standard and technical as well as foamed and recycled plastics opens a wide field of possible designs offering, at the same time, a light weight construction by using most various materials. A reduction of production steps and manufacturing costs as well as a flexible alignment of the production process are the basic premises for a successful market introduction of these highly innovative products. Having succeeded in finding a production-integrated process to equip the plastic surface with the desired functionality, the possibilities of the system shall be analyzed and presented by means of a technology demonstrator.

The Members of the Project Consortium:

3D-Sensitive-Touch

With the 3D-Sensitive-Touch technology touch-sensitive surfaces can be created for three-dimensionally formed components. This not only means curved surfaces but real 3D-shaped surfaces – complex geometries over several levels can also be reproduced. The full integrability of the 3D-Sensitive-Touch technology into the FIM process leads to a wide range of application possibilities in the field of control elements: 3D-Sensitive-Touch is not only compatible with all common film types and surfaces but can also be combined with special screen-printing inks which are indispensable for the decoration and to achieve opacity for backlighted parts.

BÖ-LA has therefore succeeded in reducing the technical and decorative process to one single film. The fact that only one carrier medium is used gives our 3D-Sensitive-Touch a technological edge and, at the same time, offers cost benefits.

The BÖ-LA MP3 alarm clock with 3-D-Sensitive-Touch (see photo Fakuma 2014) will be presented as a FIM-Multidecor concept at the Fakuma 2015. The touch-sensitive, 3D shaped surface is combined with the latest design and decor options as well as new materials and surfaces.

TouchSkin®

Another innovation which is being presented at the Fakuma is the touchskin washing machine console. The complex control element with 40 touch sensors and the same number of LEDs with integrated microcontrollers was developed by the Austrian company, plasticelectronic.

The touchskin technology integrates decor, conductive structures, LEDs and light guides on one single plastic film. The washing machine panel shown already in 2014 will be presented at the Fakuma 2015 in a new, modern design. FIM specialist BÖ-LA acts as partner for printing the graphics and for the areas of 3D-forming and injection molding which will be added as options in the future.

e-Bee

A control element for the e-bee driver interface of the Visteon concept car in a „seamless design“ with closed surfaces, molded edges and a „secret-til-lit-effect“ is replacing the conventional automotive cockpit with switches and buttons.

As a development partner for the driver interfaces, BÖ-LA has developed a high-quality, film-insert-molded display cover which is subsequently connected with a multi-touch display using the „optical bonding process“ and joined together to create an FIM touch- screen.

The component on display is characterized by its sensitive surface with a scratch-proof coating which combines many functions and is controlled by touch.

Cleanroom

All these innovations have three things in common: elegant design, flawless surfaces and absolutely precise printing – those are the criteria with which the products from BÖ-LA can be described.

To ensure that this succeeds and to satisfy the rising demand for high-gloss articles with a piano lacquer finish, BÖ-LA encapsulated the printing room last year and converted the entire printing shop into one large cleanroom. As a result, BÖ-LA also set a course towards the production of printed electronics, a new and emerging business area where a particularly dust-free environment is key.

2.400 qm

In the middle of 2015 BÖ-LA opened the 3rd plant as final inspection, assembly and logistics center, which is connected via transfer bridge and freight elevator to plant 1.

Events

13.10. - 17.10.2015

Fakuma, Friedrichshafen

BÖ-LA Booth 3310, Hall B3

11.11. - 12.11.2015

KIMW, Lüdenscheid

Film-Insert-Molding Conference

18.11. - 19.11.2015

Automotive Surface Conference, Berlin

Advances in the field of decorative and functional automotive surfaces